Jones will miss six games for Llanelli

Jones was dismissed in the 10th minute by English referee Tony Spreadbury for stamping on Perpignan scrum-half Ludovic Loustau's head.

It cost Llanelli dear - notably a third European semi-final appearance in four seasons - as Perpignan triumphed 26-19.

The Welsh international flanker will now miss the rest of Llanelli's domestic campaign.

But he will be available for Wales' short summer tour to Australia and New Zealand.

Match report: Llanelli 19-26 Perpignan

Match commissioner, Scotsman Peter Brown, imposed the 42-day suspension after reviewing video evidence from Friday's match.

"The player accepted the referee's report that he stamped on the head of the Perpignan number nine. Accordingly, he was suspended for six weeks," Brown said.

It was Jones' second red card in the Heineken Cup this season. On the previous occasion - at Sale in October - his sending-off was deemed to be sufficient punishment.

Llanelli's 14 men battled bravely for the remaining 70 minutes, but a Martyn Madden try and fly-half Stephen Jones' 14 points were not enough.

"The sending-off couldn't have happened at a worse time, particularly after we conceded an early try," said Llanelli coach Gareth Jenkins.

"When Dafydd went off, it affected the composure of our lineout and our scrum. It had an impact, no doubt about that. Dafydd is devastated, but we are not blaming him."

Jenkins added: "This was the year I felt that this side was capable of putting itself in a position to challenge for the Heineken Cup. We failed.

"We lost the game, and we can blame ourselves for the defeat, perhaps more than we can praise the opposition for their efforts."